Effects of nursing nutrition interventions on outcomes in malnourished hospital inpatients and nursing home residents: A systematic review

Gerda H van den Berg; Getty G J Huisman-de Waal; Hester Vermeulen; Marian A E de van der Schueren

doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.103888

Effects of nursing nutrition interventions on outcomes in malnourished hospital inpatients and nursing home residents: A systematic review

Int J Nurs Stud. 2021 May:117:103888. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.103888. Epub 2021 Jan 30.

Authors

Gerda H van den Berg¹, Getty G J Huisman-de Waal², Hester Vermeulen³, Marian A E de van der Schueren⁴

Affiliations

¹ HAN University of Applied Sciences, School of Allied Health, Department of Nutrition and Health, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Radboud Institute of Health Sciences, IQ Healthcare, Department of Nursing Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: gerda.vandenberg@han.nl.
² Radboud Institute of Health Sciences, IQ Healthcare, Department of Nursing Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: getty.huisman-dewaal@radboudumc.nl.
³ HAN University of Applied Sciences, School of Allied Health, Department of Nutrition and Health, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Radboud Institute of Health Sciences, IQ Healthcare, Department of Nursing Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: hester.vermeulen@radboudumc.nl.
⁴ HAN University of Applied Sciences, School of Allied Health, Department of Nutrition and Health, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: marian.devanderschueren@han.nl.

PMID: 33647842
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.103888

Abstract

Context: Malnutrition in institutionalized patients is associated with adverse outcomes and increased costs. Nurses have a crucial role in the recognition and treatment of malnutrition and empowering patients in nutritional care.

Objective: This systematic review provides an overview of the effectiveness of nursing nutritional interventions to counteract malnutrition.

Data sources: Data were obtained through a systematic search in MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane, CINAHL, EMBASE and ISI Web of Science databases from inception to February 15^th 2018.

Data extraction: Studies were eligible for inclusion when published in English, Spanish or German. Primary outcome parameters were nutritional status and dietary intake.

Data analysis: The Evidence analysis checklist from the American Dietetic Association and GRADE were used to evaluate the methodological quality of the studies.

Results: Out of 8162 studies, fifteen studies were included in the study, representing nine hospitals and six long-term care facilities. Two main categories of nursing nutrition interventions were identified; the implementation of 1) a nursing nutrition plan focusing on nursing actions in nutritional care or 2) nursing assistance in feeding support, mostly during mealtimes. Studies were heterogeneous and of most of them of low quality. This hampered drawing conclusions on effectiveness of nursing nutrition interventions on malnutrition related outcomes in clinical care. Nevertheless, six out of 15 studies reported a slightly improved nutritional status and/or clinical outcomes as a result of the interventions.

Conclusion: This review identified two categories of nursing nutrition interventions to counteract malnutrition. Their effectiveness needs to be further evaluated in future studies. Tweetable abstract: Systematic review of effective Nursing Nutrition Interventions in the management of malnutrition in hospital and nursing home care.

Keywords: Fundamentals of care; Hospitals; Malnutrition; Nursing nutrition intervention; Nursing staff; Nutritional status; Nutritional support; Systematic review.

Publication types

Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Hospitals
Humans
Inpatients
Malnutrition* / prevention & control
Nursing Homes
Nutritional Status*